Gatchalian files bill to ban mobile devices during class
MANILA, Philippines – A bill prohibiting the use of mobile devices among basic education students and teachers during class hours has been filed by Senator Sherwin Gatchalian.
In his Senate Bill No. 2706, Gatchalian cited the negative effects of excessive mobile phone usage on learners’ academic performance. He added that access to such devices seems likely to “mediate involvement in cyberbullying.”
Given these, he proposed the following:
- Prohibiting the use of mobile devices and electronic gadgets by learners from Kindergarten to Senior High School within the school premises during class hours, and by teachers and faculty members during their designated teaching hours in classrooms.
- Mandating the Department of Education (DepEd) to formulate and promulgate guidelines on the prohibition of the use of mobile devices and electronic gadgets while ensuring that private education institutions provide the same guidelines.
Gatchalian’s measure stated that exceptions to this include learning-related exceptions like classroom presentations, health and well-being-related exceptions for learners with specific health conditions that may require mobile devices or electronic gadgets, and exceptions related to managing risk, such as in case of emergency, in response to a perceived threat or danger.
READ: Classroom cellphone ban bill inihain ni Gatchalian sa Senate
“All covered public and private education institutions who fail to comply with the provisions of this act shall be subject to sanctions that may be imposed by DepEd,” said Gatchalian, who is also chairperson of the Senate’s panel on basic education.
READ: Gatchalian mulls cellphone ban in class: Youth are addicted to cellphones
“Learners shall likewise be subject to appropriate sanctions provided in the school policies set forth by the DepEd for violation of Section 5 thereof,” he added.
Earlier, the senator said this move was in line with his bid to encourage more Filipinos to read and buy more books. He believes mobile phones reduce students’ reading, studying, as well as social time.
